Birba's backyard garden is one step closer to becoming a reality.
Earlier this year, the European wine bar at 458 Grove between Gough and Octavia filed for a conditional use authorization to turn its rear courtyard into an outdoor activity area. Now, a public hearing will take place on July 20th.
"The beauty of this space is the garden," owner Angela Valgiusti told us more than two years ago. "I really want that space open to people.”
When we reached out to her about the hearing, she said increased density in the neighborhood made her more determined to establish the outdoor space.
"The patio will allow for a safe and special dining experience in the neighborhood," she said, "within reasonable hours and occupancy, [and] congruent with the zoning of our mixed-use neighborhood."
Valgiusti has long hoped to open the rear garden to her customers. When Birba first opened in 2015, her plans included an outdoor garden.
However, neighbors expressed concerns over possible late-night noise and activity from the patio area, which resulted in a discretionary review. In the end, the indoor wine bar was approved, but the outdoor area remained in question.
Despite the setback, Valgiusti kept hoping to open the garden and resumed the project earlier this year. Along with filing a conditional use authorization, she hosted a community outreach meeting in January to alleviate neighborhood concerns.
"We have proven to be a respectful neighbor," Valgiusti said, pointing out that the project has more than 1,000 supporters, as well as an endorsement from the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association.
According to public records, SF Planning asked Valgiusti to demonstrate that food accounted for 51% of gross receipts—compared to alcohol—in the months leading up to the hearing.
The issue lies in a 2015 complaint, amongst others, that "sales figures for alcohol exceed that of food." To close the open enforcement cases against Birba—which would allow Valgiusti to move forward with her conditional use application for outdoor seating—Planning wants to see that patio seating area would increase, rather than lower, food sales.
The project also seeks to turn the garage next to Birba into a support area for the restaurant:
The proposal is for Conditional Use authorization [...] to establish an Outdoor Activity Area in a back patio of an existing restaurant use (d.b.a. Birba). The project proposes to expand the existing restaurant use into the adjacent 216 square. foot garage space, which includes the replacement of an existing garage door with a storefront system. The project also includes the construction of a 7' 8" tall pergola on the existing outdoor patio at the rear of the existing building, as well as the addition of outdoor seating for 26 patrons. The project would result in 1,490 square foot of restaurant use.
According to Planning, the elimination of the parking garage and curb cut would allow the project to increase street parking by one space and provide two bicycle parking spaces for the area.
Because of the complications in opening the garden, Valgiusti and the folks behind Birba are also seeking donations to alleviate what they call "initially unanticipated and exorbitant legal fees." Donors can expect an invitation to a special garden party once the garden is finally open.
